Apparatus for cutting, folding, and creasing labels



June 11, 1940. A. RosEN'rHAL 2,204,189

AND CRESING LABELS Fild Fb. 21. 1938 APPARATUS FOR CUTTING, FOLDING,

8 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEYS.

June 1l, 1940. A. RosEN'rHAL APPARATUS FOR CUTTING, FOLDING, AND CREASING LABELS Filed Feb. 21, 1938 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS June l1, 1940. A. RosENTl-IAL 2,204,189

APPARATUS FOR CUTTING, FOLDING, AND CREASING LABELS Filed Feb. 21, 1939 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENT OR.

ATTORNEY 5 June 1l, 1940. A. RosENTHAL APPARATUS FOR CUTTING, FOLDING, AND CREASING LABELS Filsd Feb. 21. 1938 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. Frfw /Faesn/a/ i owl ATTORNEY5.

June 11, 1940 A. Rost-:NTHAL 2,204,189

APPARATUS FOR CUTTING, FOLDING, AND CREASING LABELS Filed Feb. 21, 19258 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

4,7 ATTORNEY5 June 11, 1940. A. Rosi-:NTHAL 2,204,189

APPARATUS FOR CUTTING, FOLDING, AND CREASING LABELS Filed Feb. 21, 1958 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 ATTORNEY June 11, 1940. A. RosENTHAL APPARATUS FOR CUTTING, FOLDING, AND CREASING LABELS Filed Feb. 2l, 1958 8 Sheets-Sheet '7 ATTORNEY June 1l, 1940. A, RQSENTHAL 2,204,189

APPARATUS FOR CUTTING, FOLDING, AND CREASING LABELS Filed Feb. 21, 1938 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 1N VENTOR.

ATTORNEYS Patented June 11, 1940 UNITED STATES- APPARATUS FOB CUTTING, FOLDING, CBEASIN G LABELS .muur ammini, Grana Rapids, Mich., mignr -to Rose Patch d; Label Co., Grand Rapids,

Mich.

Application February 21, 1938, Serial No. 191,740

l Claims.

This invention relates to mechanism and methods for cutting, folding, creasing and packing labels or the like. Heretofore, in performing these operations the speed of the machine 5 has been limited by the necessity for performing the creasing operation as one step in the cycle of operations and the degree of heat that can be applied to labels, for the creasing operation must be applied for a length of time which definitely limits the speed of the operation. If a greater degree of heat is applied in an endeavor to speed up the machine there is danger of scorching labels, or, in the case of labels of cellulose material such as the product sold under the trademark Rayon, there is danger of causing a shrinking of the label along the length of the fold. Silk labels require a longer application of heat than other labels and of necessity the prior machines have been operated at a very low rate 2o of speed when handling silk labels. This is particularly the case when the labels are run through the machine with a paper strip which is common practice in handling such labels if they are at all flimsy so as to require the supporting strip of paper.

In the prior machines when run at high speeds it has been necessary to apply considerable pressure to the label along with the heat to produce a satisfactory crease and in many cases this results in the production of iron marks on the label at the crease.

The objects of this invention are:

First, to produce a new and improved machine for cutting, folding, creasing and packing labels or the like.

Second, to produce such a machine in which the speed of operation is increased materially over prior machines.

Third, to produce such a machine in which 40 the creasing operation is/such that it does not tend to slow the operation of the rest of the machine and in which more satisfactory creasing of the labels is carried on.

Fourth, to provide such a machine which can be easily and quickly adjusted to handle labels of different lengths and widths in which the folders, heaters, creasers a'nd packers are mounted as a unit so that a single adjustment will adjust all.

Fifth, to provide such a machine in which the folding mechanism loosely folds the label over the fold form so as to prevent the labels from adhering to the fold form which eliminates damaging or improperly folding many labels.

sixth, to provide such a machine in which the label strip is fed face up throughout all of the operations to facilitate the spotting and removal of damaged labels and to provide a machine in which the flimsiest of silk labels may be handled without a supporting paper strip.

Seventh, to provide such a machine in which ls provided a new and improved packer for receiving the labels after they have been cut, folded and creased.

Eighth, to provide a new and improved method of cutting, folding and creasing labels.

Ninth, to provide such a method in which the proper degree of heat and the proper amount of pressure may be applied to the labels for creasing without slowing up the other operations.

Tenth, to provide such a machine in which the labels are not fed directly from the supply roll but in which a take-up device feeds from the roll so that the pull necessary to feed from a large roll of labels need not be exerted by the label feeding jaws which also serve as a portion of the folding mechanism.

Eleventh, to provide such a machine in which means are pro,vided to remove imperfect labels spotted by the operator of the machine without in any way interfering with the operation of the machine.

Further objects and advantages pertaining to details and economies of construction and operation will appear from the detailed description to follow. The invention is defined in the claims.

A structure which embodies the features of my invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a machine embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the machine shown in Fig. 1 taken from the opposite side.

Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of the creasing and packing mechanism.

Fig. 4 is a detail elevation view of the packing mechanism.

Fig. 5 isa detail perspective view of the feeding and folding mechanism and of the front end of the creasing mechanism.

Eig. 6 is a detail sectional view taken on line i-Ifqf Fig. 8 showing the operating mechanism for the jaws forming the feeding jaws of the creasing mechanism.

Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view taken on line 1-1 of Fig. 8 showing the details of the operating mechanism for the plunger of the packer.

Fig. 8 is a view partially in section showing de,- tails of the slide operating mechanism employed for actuating the feeding slide for the jaws of the pressing mechanism.

Fig. 9 is a detail sectional view taken on line 8-9 of Fig. 8 showing the jaw opening and closing mechanism of the feeding jaws used in connection with the creasing mechanism and the clutch mechanism for operating the label removing jaws.

Fig. 10 is a detail sectional view taken on line I0-I0 of Fig. 9 showing the jaw opening and closing mechanism with the jaws in open position.

Fig. l1 is a detail sectional view on line II-I I of Fig. 14 showing the folding mechanism for folding the ends of the label.

Fig. 12 is a detail sectional view taken on line I2-I2 oi Figs. 14 Aand 15 showing details of the pressing mechanism. y

Fig. 13 is a detail sectional view taken on .line I3--I3 of Fig. 14.

Fig. 14 is an elevation view partly in section showing the label feeding jaws for use in connection with the creasing mechanism.

Fig. 15 is a. sectional view showing the heater used in the creasing mechanism.

Fig. 16 is a detail view showing jaws and an actuating mechanism for operating said jaws to remove spoiled labels from the machine at the will of the operator.

Fig. 17 is a detail View of the side opposite that shown of the jaws in Fig. 16 and showing the jaws in closed position.

Fig. 18 is a detail sectional view taken on line Iii-I8 of Fig. 17. i

Fig. 19 is a detail view of the clutch mechanism for actuating the jaws of Fig. 16, taken on Fig. 20 is a detail view Ashowing the take-up mechanism used to draw the label strip from the supply reel before the operation of the feed jaws.

The machine I is provided with a base 2 on which the mechanisms are mounted, and includes a reel 3 for holding the strip 4 of labels t0 be operated upon. The label strip is pulled from the label supply reel 3 by means of a take-up mechanism consisting of a bed |35 over which the label strip is fed and above which a jaw |31 provided with a weight |38 is pivoted on the point |39. 'I'his jaw serves to hold the label against backward movement. 'An arm |40 having its end I4I bent at right angles extends over the label strip and moves from the full line position to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 20 to pull a section of the label strip from the supply reel 3 before the balancing and feeding thereof which are later described. A heart-shaped'face cam |42 having the groove |43 engaging the follower' |44 on a lever |45 pivoted at |45 carries the arm |40, so thatthe rod I4I| reciprocates once for each cycle of the machine to pull a length of label strip from the supply reel 3.

The label strip is then fed along by feeding jaws 5 which are operated by a mechanism substantially identical in details with the feeding mechanism shown in my application for Letters Patent Serial No'. 145,695, filed June l, 1937, for Label cutting and folding machines. These feeding jaws feed a label strip about one label length and the knife 5 severs the label from the end of the strip.

The labels are balanced by means of a suitable balancing device indicated at I which is substantially identical in operation with the balancing device illustrated in my Patent No. 1,984,657, issued December 18, 1934, for Label cutting and folding machine. This device balances or positions the label at the end of the label strip in proper position so that when the-feed jaws grasp it the insignia on the face of the label are properly disposed. The feed jaws then feed the'label 5 through the knife which severs the individual label from the end of the strip. j

The label strip 4 is fed with the labels face up past the knife 8 and is severed. After the label,

which is indicated at 8, has been grasped by the 10 folding jaws 5, which have the fold form 5 on the lower jaw, the jaws 5 move upwardly carrylng the label to the folding mechanism which is shown in detail in Fig. 11.

The knife 5 is mounted on a support |41 which l5 is adjustable longitudinally of the label strip. The support is clamped by cap screws |48. A gage |48 is provided to indicate the position of the knife and by adjusting the position of the knife it is possible to control the length of the label which is folded over the fold form on the feeding jaws 5.

The folding mechanism is mounted on a fixed support II and a movable support I2 which is movable to and away from the support II. The folding mechanism consists of a pair of levers I3 each pivoted at I4 on its respective support. At the lower end of each lever is a folder I5 consisting of a sheet of metal having its end bent at right angles as shown at I6. Springs I1 tend to normally urge the folders I5 toward one another and cams I8 operate on the cam followers I8 on the ends of the levers I3 opposite the folders I5 to move the folders apart as the label holding jaws 5 carry the label 8 upwardly into the folding mechanism. The cams I8 are timed with the operation of the jaws 5 so that as the jaws move upwardly the cams I8 move to the position shown in Fig. 11 to move the folders to the position shown in Fig. 11. 'I'he ends I5 of the folders are moved to a position to clear the fold form 3 as it moves upwardly, and I prefer to provide a clearance substantially equal to the thickness of the label 8 so that the ends I5 of the folders will engage the ends 20 of the label to fold them downwardly to the position shown in Fig. ll. As the label reaches the position shown in Fig. 11, the cams I8 release the levers I3 and the springs I1 move the folders inwardly to fold the ends 20 of the label loosely around the fold form. 'I'he label then lies against the stop members 2 I, which are extensions of fthe heating element of the pressing mechanism, and is held frictionally in place by the folders I5 so that the jaws 5 may be retracted leaving the label in position to be grasped by the feeding jaws 22 which carry the label through the creasing mechanism. Stops |34, see Fig. 14, behind which the label is disposed by the upward movement of thejaws 5, assist in holding the label in position when the jaws are withdrawn.

The levers I3 as above described are pivoted on the pins I4 which are mounted on slides |35 which are normally urged to their uppermost position by springs |33. The cam |32 engages a5 In Fig. 14, I show the feeding Jaws t retracted, and in dotted lines I show the Jaws 22 open and moving forwardly to grasp the label l to feed it back. into the creasing mechanism. The Jaws 22 reciprocate between the full line and dotted line positions of Fig. 14. These jaws close to wardly to release the label to permit the jaws 22 to feed it back to the full line position of 111g. 14. This operation is brought about by the mechanism shown in Figs. 6 to 10. A driven shaft 23 is geared to the driving shaft 24 by gears 25 and 28. On the driven shaft 23 is a barrel cam 21 with a cam groove 28 in which is fitted a cam follower 2l which is mounted on a slide Ill. In Fig. 8, I show the shape of the cam slot 2l and the cam slot is shown in two positions, one in full lines and one in dotted lines. Fig. 8 also shows the slide 30 in two positions, one in full lines and the other in dotted lines. The full and dotted line positions correspond to the dotted and full line positions in Fig. 14.

The jaws 22 consist of pairs of .1aws,'the lower pair indicated at 3l and the upper pair at 32. The jaws 3i are supported on a lever I3 and the jaws 32 on a lever I4. These levers are pivoted on the slide 2li by pivots 2i and 36 respectively, and the means for opening and closing the jaws consists of a cam 21 mounted between the levers ll and 34. The cam l1 has a pair of flat faces 3l and a pair of curved surfaces I9. Theopening and closing of the jaws is brought about by the turning of the cam 90 degrees. In Fig. 10 I show the cam holding the jaws in open position, and a 90 degree turning of the cam causes the jaws to close. The cam 41 is operated by pinions and 4I, each having a rack. The rack 42 operates the pinion 40 and the rack 4I the pinion 4|. 'I'he lower ends of the racks 4i and 42 extend below the slide l0 and the racks are operated at the ends of the reciprocating motion of the slide It. The rack 4l is operated by a cam 44 on -the shaft 22 and a similar cam 4I on the shaft 22 operates the rack 42. In Fig. 8 the mechanism is shown 4in the position to hold the iaws open. A spring 44 tends to urge the levers 24 and I4 together in opposition to the action of the cam I1 and for convenience I provide a shaft 41 with a knurled knob 4l thereon for operating the cam 31 to open the jaws 22 without operating the rest of the mechanism. The barrel cam 21 and the cams 44 and 45 are so timed that the jaws open, move forward to grasp the label, close, and reciprocate to a new position, and then open and move forward to grasp the label.

In connection with the feeding jaws 22 is the creasing mechanism. The heating mechanism is mounted on the fixed support ii and movable support i2, and consists of a pair of fixed heating elements 49. one mounted on each support. Details of one of the heating elements are shown in Fig.`15. The heating element is of copper and is chromium plated to provide a smooth hard surface which is not subject to corrosion and oxidation which might result in soiling the labels. Because of its high conductivity the copper is extremely practical as a heating element, and it is not necessary to have the heating unit run the full length of the element. A bore It is provided extending :er e persen er the length lof the heating element 4l and the inside of. this bore is chromium plated asindicated at Il. An ordinary resistance heating element l2 is inserted in this bore and. although the element i2 does not extend the full length of the heater. the end 2i thereof is maintained at substantially the same temperature as the remainder of the heating element so that the labels which are folded against the end 2i of the heating element as heretofore described are heated to partially setv the crease.

. Cooperating with the heating elements, which are fixed, are the movable creasing elements 63 which consist of vertical elements I4 which are'normally urged to the position shown in Fig.

12 by the tension spring Bl. lThe ends 54 of the members 52 are bent at right angies as shown in Fig. 12' and grasp the label 4 as shown. The slides 54 are provided with cam followers l1 to engage the cams B4 which operate to move the slides downwardly to release the labels l. The cams 5I are mounted on shafts I9 which also carry the cams il. 'I'hese shafts are driven from the driving shaft 24 through the gears 2l, 26 and i0. The gear 60 is keyed to the shaft ti which carries the gear 62 which engages the gear 63 on the shaft 64. On the shaft 44 is the fixed gear 65 running one of the shafts 5l and the gear 6i which is splined for movement along the shaft t4.` The gears 65 and 40 engage beveled gears 61 on the shafts 59.

The cams-58 are timed to open the pressing mechanism when the jaws 22 have grasped the label and prior to the movement of the jaws 22 l to the full line position shown in Fig. 14. When the jaws 22 have moved to the position shown in full lines in Fig. 14, the cams 5l permit the creasing mechanism to close to grasp the label as shown in Fig. 12, and the jaws 22 then open and move forward to grasp another label.

In the operation of this machine the label, after it has been balanced and before it is severed, is held in the balanced relationship. After thev label has been severed it is always positively held so that there is no opportunity for the label to become displaced so that the effect of the balancing will be lost. The label is held by the jaws 6 until the folding mechanism grasps the label. The folding mechanism, as heretofore described, gives the label a preliminary press.

The label is then held in 'the folding mechanism until it is grasped by the laws 22. 'After the jaws 22 grasp the label it is released by the folding mechanism as heretofore described. s It is then moved into the pressing mechanism and is either held by the jaws 22 or by the presser mechanism until the pressing operation is completed. By using the stepped operation of pressing, I avoid the necessity forapplying a high degree of heat to the label for a short time to accomplish the creasing operation.

It will be apparent that several pressing operations are performed on each label without slowing down the speed of the cutting and folding mechanism since the pressing operations proceed as several steps after the cutting and folding operations. The degree of heat thus applied can be less than in the prior machines where a single pressing operation had to be performed as one step in the cycle of opertions.

I have found that the use of a series of creasing steps is more satisfactory than one -single step. and I have found that I can employ less heat and less pressure than is the case in the prior ma- Highpress'ure, which leaves iron marks on the labels, need not be employed and there is no danger ofshrinking labels of Vcellulose materlalvor of injuring silk labels in the pressing opera.-

Ltion. l

The-packing mechanism of my machine is ad.

justable to fit all sizes of labels.

One portion. of the-packing -mechanism is mounted on the xed support |I and the other portion is mounted on Athe adjustable support I2. The packing mechanism consists of a guide formed of four angle members 66, two of which are mounted on each of the supports and, I2. These are adjustable along the supports to accommodate labels of any width and then adjustment for the length of the label is accomplished by moving the support I2 to and away from the support I.

Mounted one on each of the supports II and I2 are levers 69. Each lever carries at its lower end a series of hook members 10 which are in register with a series` of slots 1| provided in plates 12 which are mounted on the supports and I2.

'I'he levers 69 are pivoted at 13 and each has a,

cam follower 14 at its upper end to engage a cam 'I5 whichv is mounted on a shaft 59.

Each of the hook members 10 is pivoted at |50 in slot |5| in the lower end of the lever 69. A hole |52 extends through the lower end of the lever 69 intercepting the slots |52, and each member is provided with a hole |53 adapted to register with the hole |52 when the members are in the down or operating position. A member |54 extends through the hole |52 and through the holes |53 when the members 10 are in the down position. If it is desired to raise one of the members 10 as is indicated at the left hand side of Fig. 4, the member |54 is pulled from the hole |52 and the member 10 is swung to the position indicated at the left hand end of Fig. 4 and member |54 is inserted. This holds the member 10 out of operating position and this is provided to prevent clash of the members 10 with the lower ends |55 of the packer tube members which are to be later described.

Below the tube formed by the members 68 is a plunger 16 consisting of a plurality of parallel sheet metal members 11 which are mounted in grooves on the face of the plunger 16 in register with the slots 1I in the plates 12.4 The plunger 16 is operated by a lever 18 having a forked end 19 engaging pin 80 and pivoted at 8|. and carrying a cam follower 82 which rides in a slot 83 on the face of the cam 84 which is mounted on the shaft 23. The operation of the folding mechanism is timed with the pressing mechanism and the jaws 22 so that the jaws 22 carry the label below the members 49 as shown in Fig. 14. The presser mechanism then closes and the jaws 22 open and are moved fromv below the packing tube. The plunger 16 is timed to move upwardly at this time to engage the label as it is stripped from the jaws 22 by the pressing mechanism which has closed before the parts are retracted. The plunger 16 carries the label into the tube and the cams are so timed that the hooked members 10 are retracted as the plunger moves upwardly, carrying the label into the tube.

The hooked ends 10 move under the label when the plunger 16 reaches the' top of its stroke, holding the stack of labels in position in the tube as shown in full lines in Fig. 4. The hooks 10 may be retracted without mussing up the labels in the tube and when they move back to posi- ,1 ,tin tendi smooth out the mid inthe end of `the `label so that there is practically no danger of spoilinfgvthefold. The springs 85 tend to urgethe ends 10 under lthelabels in the tube in opposition to the movementv caused by the cams 15. `It will be apparent that the machine may be adjusted to take labels of different lengths by making a single adjustment. This adjustment is accomplished by moving the member I2 to and away from the member II. The member I2 carriesl with itl half oi' the folding mechanism, half of the creasing mechanism, and half of the packin proper alignment. By turning the knurled knob 0 9 it is possible to move member I2 along the slides since the shaft 86 is held in position by the member 90 which engages the collar 92 and the knurled knob 89.

'I'he jaws 3| and 32 are preferably positioned in close relationship to the folding mechanism and the creasing mechanism so that the labels, if they are of flimsy nature, are held in ilxed position during the operation of these jaws. It will be noted that the jaws 3| and 32 are relatively adjustable along the levers 33 and 84 since they are clamped in position by screws 95 extending through the slots 96 of the levers 33 and 34.

The labels are fed face up throughthe machine so that the operator may notice and spot any imperfect labels. I provide'a mechanism for removing imperfect labels so that they will not go to the packing mechanism. This mechanism consists of jaws and |56 which are mounted on the lever |51 which is pivoted at |58. These jaws are disposed to grasp the label at the point of entry into the packer tube. The jaws are normally held together by springs |59. A trip mechanism for holding the jaws apart as they move to a position to grasp the label is illustrated in Fig. 17. This consists of a bell crank lever pivoted at |6I on the lever |51. A spring |62 operates on the end |63 of the bell crank lever to tend to urge it in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 17. The other end |64 of the bell crank lever serves as a stop to hold the jaws in open position and an adjustable trip member |65 is provided in the path of movement of the bell crank lever |60. It consists of a screw |66 in a suitable mounting.

As the lever |51 swings to a position to place the jaws at the lower end of the packing tube to grasp a label to remove it, the member |65 is engaged by the end |64 of the bell crank lever |60 so that the parts are moved to the position shown in Fig. 17. The spring |59 thus closes the jaws to permit them to grasp a label as shown. When the jaws return to the position shown in Fig. 16 a roller |61 engages a cam member |68 which opens the jaws to drop the imperfect label.

The movement of the lever |51 to carry the jaws to operating position is accomplished through connection to an operating portion of the machine which in this instance is the slide which carries the jaws 22. A lever |69 is pivoted on the pivot |10. A link |1| is pivoted to a post |12 on the lever |69 and at |13 to the lever |51 so that a pivoting of the lever |69 moves the jaws |55 and |56 from the position of Fig. 16 Vto the position of Fig. 17 andl back again, causing the above described mechanism to open and close the Jawsto grasp the label.

0n the slide |11 which carries the feeding jaws 2! is provided a transverse slot |15. An'arm |15 is pivoted at |11 for up and down movement on the lever |09. A stud |1l is carried on the end of the arm to engage in the slot |15.

I provide a wedge |19 to control the operation of the device. This wedge is mounted on a rod which has a knob |l| thereon. A spring |52 surrounds the rod and is disposed to urge the wedge inwardly. Ihe spring |52 bears on the wedge and on a support |53 through which the rod III extends. The wedge is disposed tc slide between the slide |14 and the arm |10 to normally raise the arm around the pivot |11 to disengage the pin |15 from the slot |15. When an imperfect label is to be removed, the operator pulls on the knob |5| retracting the wedge to permit the pin |15 to engage the slot |15 in the slide |15 causing the Jaws to operate once for each cycle of the machine.

The wedge |19 is so positioned that the pin |15 is disengaged from the slot |15 at one position only of the slot |14 and this position is one in which the jaws |55 and |55 are retracted from operating position. When the wedge |19 is withdrawn, the jaws are actuated in timed relation to the remaining parts of the machine so that they advance to grasp a label only after it has been released from `the jaws 22 and before the plunger 15 moves to force the label up into the packer tube.

In operating the jaws |55 and |55, the operator can note the imperfect label as it passes to the jaws 22 and can, through counting the cycles of operation of the machine, merely pull on the knob III to assure removal of the label at the proper cycle of operation.

The lower portions |55 of the packer tube elements extend downwardly to assure proper positioning of the label on the plunger 1i. In order to permit easy removal of the label, the Jaws |55 and |56 are formed as indicated in Fig. 18. The lower jaw |56 is grooved at I and a mating raised rib |85 is provided in the jaw 55. When these jaws close upon a label, there is a tendency to fold it as indicated in Fig. 18 so that the ends will more easily clear the packer tube members when the jaws are withdrawn. This is of particular advantage in labels formed of rather stii material since such labels would resist removal.

It will be apparent that in addition to the advantages of speeding up the machine due to the fact that the pressing operation is carried on in a series of steps, there is a further advantage in the ability to feed that labels face upwardly. The operator of the machine can thus detect imperfect labels and remove them before they go to the packer. The apparatus is provided with means for removing imperfect labels which greatly simplifies the operation of the machine.

With this machine it is possible to handle imsy vsilk labels. The location of the fold form l in the lower jaw greatly facilitates this since my arrangement of this fold form makes it serve as a support for the label. sists in folding the ends of the label downward because of this location of the fold form-l By having the folders positively operated, I eliminate any stretching of the label over the fold form and thus eliminate the undesirable feature which has been present in the prior machines Gravity asand avoid having the labels turned slightly by close frictional engagement with the fold form. In the machine of my invention the label is folded accurately but is wrapped loosely so that the fold form is removed without the disadvantages of the prior machines.

I have illustrated and described my invention in an embodiment which I have found very emcient. I have not attempted to illustrate and describe other embodiments and adaptations of which my invention is capable as I believe this disclosure will enable those skilled in the art to embody the same as may be desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent s:

l. In an apparatus for cutting, folding and creasing labels, a `pair of feeding .laws having an upper Jaw vand a lower jaw with a fold form thereon. means for feeding a strip of labels face up, means for severing a label from the end of the strip after it has been grasped and positioned by said feeding jaws, means for folding, creasing and packing the labels comprising a support, a pair of heating elements supported by said support and having downwardly disposed straight faces, folders supported on said support comprising levers pivoted on said support above said heating elements comprising levers lying outside of said heating elements and having their ends at right angles to embrace the faces of said heating elements. pressing elements comprising slides lying outside of said heating elements having their ends bent at right angles to embrace the faces of said heating elements, and a 'packing tube supported by said support having fingers extending on opposite -sides and outside of said tube having their ends movable under said tube to support labelstherein, said packing tube being located directly adjacent the end of said heaters and said creasing elements, a plunger for forcing labels into said tube, elongated jaws extending between said heating elements, means for reciprocating said elongated jaws so that at one end of the reciprocation the jaws will grasp a label held in said folders leaving the bottom of the packing tube clear to permit the plunger to force a label into said tube and at the other end of the reciprocating motion leaving the folder clear to receive a label while said jaws are depositing a label held therebetween at said packing tube, means for moving said label feeding jaws and the fold form against the bottom of the heating members, means for actuating said folders, pressers and label retainers in the packing means comprising a pair of shafts having cams thereon for pivoting said folders and withdrawing them from the heating elements to permit insertion of the labels and fold form and for permitting said folders to move beneath the fold form to fold a label held therein, cams for causing movement of said pressing members to and away from the heating element, and cams for operating said label retaining members of said packer, and means for opening and closing said elongated jaws, all of said means being timed so that as the elongated jaws are advanced to the folder to grasp a label they are opened and the pressing members are held against the heating elements while when the elongated jaws are closed to grasp the label held by the folder and labels -held by the pressers to reciprocate to feed thelabei through the folder the presser mechanisms are moved away from the heating elements to release the labels for movement by the reciprocation of said elongated laws. said label retaining members of the packer being timed to retract from the packer when' the plunger operates to receive a label, whereby a label at the packing tube will be stripped from the elongated jaws when they are opened and advanced by the closing of the space between the heater and the pressing means.

2. In an apparatus for cutting, folding and creasing labels, a pair of feeding jaws having an upper jaw and a lower jaw with a fold form thereon, means for feeding a strip of labels face up, means for severing a label from the end of the strip after it has been grasped and positioned by said feeding jaws, means for folding, creasing and packing the labels comprising a support, a pair of heating elements supported by said support and having downwardly disposed straight faces, folders supported on said support comprising levers pivoted on said support above said heating elements comprising levers lying outside of said heating elements and having their ends at right angles to embrace the faces of said heating elements, pressing elements comprising slides lying outside of said heating .elements having their ends bent at right angles to embrace the faces of said heating elements, and a packing tube, a plunger for forcing labels into said tube, elongated jaws extending between said heating elements, means for reciprocating said elongated jaws so that at one end of the reciprocation the jaws will grasp a label held in said folders leaving the bottom of the packing tube clear to permit the plunger to force a label into said tube and at the other end of the reciprocating motion leaving the folder clear to receive a label while said jaws are depositing a label held therebetween at said packing tube, means for moving said label feeding jaws and the fold form against the bottom of the heating members, means for actuating said folders comprising a pair of shafts A having cams thereon for pivoting said folders and withdrawing them from the heating elements to permit insertion of the labels and fold form and for permitting said folders to move beneath the fold form to fold a label held therein, cams for causing movement of said pressing members to and away from the heating element, and means for opening and closing said elongated jaws, all of said means being timed so that as the elongated jaws are advanced to the folder to grasp a label they are opened and the pressing 'members are held against the heating elements while when the elongated jaws are closed to grasp the label held by the folder and labels held by the pressers to' reciprocate to feed the label through the folder the presser mechanisms are moved away from the heating elements to release the labels for movement by the reciprocation of said elongated jaws, whereby a label at the packing tube will be stripped from the elongated jaws when they are opened and advanced by the closing of the space between the heater and the pressing means.

3. In an apparatus for cutting and folding labels or the like, the combination of upper and lower' feed jaws, the lower feed jaw having a fold form thereon, means for supplying a strip of labels face up to said jaws, means for severing an individual label from the end of the strip after it has been positioned and grasped by said jaws, folding, pressing and packing mechanism comprising a pair of, elongated members having a downwardly disposed straight face thereon,

means for applying heat thereto, folders embracing one end of said straight faces. means for moving said laws with their fold form upwardly against the downwardly disposed faces of said straight members, means for separating said folders a distance Just sumcient to permit the fold form and label thereon to be moved against said downwardly disposed faces, means for moving said folders to fold the ends of ,a label on the fold form around the fold form, means for retracting said 'feeding jaws and fold form to leave said label in said folder, upper and lower feed Jaws disposed between said elongated members, means for reciprocating said feed jaws between said elongated members, means for operating said jaws as they are moved to grasp a label in said folders and for closing said Jaws prior to the release of the label by the folders, means for retracting said folders to release a label held therein, pressing means embracing the downwardly disposed face of said elongated members, presser operating means for moving said pressing means to and away from the face of said elongated members timed to moved said pressing members away from the face during reciprocation of said elongated feeding jaws away from the folders,

' whereby labels held in said elongated feeding jaws are moved between said downwardly disposed face and said presser members and timed to move said presser members to said faces to press the label prior to the opening of the feed jaws and the reciprocation thereof to the folder to receive an additional label, said presser members and elongated feeding jaws being of such length that each label is pressed a plurality of times as it is fed along, a. packing tube disposed beyond the end of said elongated members and positioned to receive labels fed thereto by the reciprocation of said elongated feeding jaws, fingers movable to a position to support the labels in the packing tube and retractable from the mouth of the tube, a plunger timed to engage a label received from said elongated jaws and to force said label into said tube when the elongated jaws are opened and advanced to grasp a new label, and means for retracting said fingers from the lower e'nd of the tube as the plunger forces a label into the tube and to move said fingers to support said labels when the plunger is retracted.

4. In an apparatus for cutting and folding labels or the like, the combination of feeding jaws having a fold form, means for supplying a strip l f labels to said jaws, and means for severing an individual label from the end of the strip, folding,

' pressing and packing means comprising a pair of opposed supports each having thereon an elons gated member having a straight face lying parallel with the fold form of said feeding jaws, each elongated member having a folder embracing the face thereof to fold the label around the fold form, means for moving the label feeding jaws and the fold form against the face of said elongated member for folding, means for actuating said folder, pressing means embracing the face of said elongated member positioned adjacent said I jaws and for opening and closing them, one end of said reciprocating jaws being disposed to grasp a label held by the folders to advance it to the pressersand the other end being disposed to advance a label to a position below the packer tube, and means for moving one of said supports to or away from the other.

5. In an apparatus for cutting and folding labels or the like, the combination of feeding jaws having a fold form, means for supplying a strip of labels to said jaws, and means for severing an individual label from the end of the strip, folding, pressing and packing means comprising a pair of opposed supports each having thereon an elongated member having a straight face lying parallel with the fold form of said feeding jaws, each elongated member having a folder embracing the face thereof to fold the label around the fold form, means for moving the ,label feeding jaws and the fold form against the face of said elongated member `for folding, means for actuating said folder, pressing means embracing the face of said elongated member positioned adjacent said folder, means for moving said pressing means to and away from said face, said pressing means extending to the end of the face, a section of. packing tube supported on each of said supports opposed to the section of tube on the other support, means on each support movable to hold la-- bels in the packing tube formed by the opposed halves of such tube on the supports, a plunger to force labels into said packer tube, reciprocating jaws disposed between said opposed supports, one above and one below the straight face of said elongated members, and means for reciprocating said jaws and for opening and closing them. one end of said reciprocating jaws being disposed to grasp a label held by the folders to advance it to the pressers and the other end being disposed to advance a label to a position below the packer tube.

6. In an apparatus for cutting and folding labels or the like, means for feeding a label' strip and for severing a label from the end of the strip and for folding the' label, and a pressing means comprising elongated opposed pressing members and elongated feeding jaws, means for opening said jaws and advancing them to grasp a label in the folding means and to retract said jaws to deposit the fold of the label between said elongated pressing members, means for moving said pressing members together to grasp and press the label timed with said elongated feeding jaws so that the fold of the label is pressed and held between said pressing members prior to the opening of said elongated jaws and the advancement thereof to grasp an additional label, and means for moving said pressing members apart when the jaws grasp the labels to feed them, said elongated jaws and presser member being so disposed that each label is pressed between said pressing members a plurality of times and at different portions of said pressing members before discharge from the pressing means, said pressing means being timed with the feeding and folding means to take a new label from the folder each time the folder operates on a label.

7. In an apparatus for cutting and folding labels or the like, the combination of means for feeding a label strip and for holding said label strip in position and for holding the end label of the strip both before and after severing from the strip, means for severing the end label of the strip, means for folding the label while it is held by said first mentioned means and for holding said label after it is released by said first mentioned means, and creasing means for applying pressure to the folds of the label a plurality of times comprising feeding means to grasp the label while it is heldin position between folding means. and pressing means to press the fold of the label, said feeding means being timed to move the label when it is released by the folding means to the pressing means and to release the label after it is held by the pressing means and to again grasp the label while it is still held by the pressing'means to advance it when it is released by tbe pressing means and to place it in another portion of the pressing means.

8. .In an apparatus for cutting, folding, creasing and packing labels or the like, the combination of means for feeding a strip of labels and for severing an individual label from the end of the strip and for folding the label, means for pressing the folded label to form a crease of the fold, said means operating to press the label a plurality of times each pressing occurring during one cycle of operation of the feeding, severing and folding means, and means for packing said labels operating cyclically with said feeding, severing and folding means to pack the individual labels as they pass from the means for pressing the label.

9. In an apparatus for cutting and folding labels or the like, the combination of means for feeding a strip of labels and for severing an individual label from the end of the strip and for folding the label, and means for pressing the folded label to form a crease at the fold, said means. operating to press the crease of a label a plurality of times, each pressing occurring during one cycle of operation of the aforesaid feeding, severing and folding means.

l0. In an apparatus of the class described, pressing means comprising la heating element having a straight face and an opposed pressing member, feeding jaws, and means for reciprocating said jaws adjacent and parallel to said pressing means, the reciprocations having an amplitude less than the length of the pressing means, l

and means opening and closing said feeding jaws during reciprocation, and means for opening and closing said pressing means so timed that a label passing through the pressing means is held either ,-by the pressing means or the feeding jaws and is,

fed through the pressing means in a plurality of steps whereby it is pressed a plurality of times.

1l. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of pressing means and a packing tube, said pressing means comprising jaws to receive and press a folded label, said jaws terminating at the edge of the packing tube, reciprocating feeding jaws for feeding labels from the pressing means to the'packing tube, said feeding jaws and pressing jaws being so timed that the feeding jaws grasp a label held yby `the pressing jaws whereupon the pressing jaws open and the feeding jaws advance to the packing tube and open whereupon the pressing jaws close to' form feeding -a-strip of labels and for severing an individual'v label from. the end of th strip and i'or i/olding the label, and means for preparing the folded label to form a crease at the fold, operated to press the label a plurality of times. each pressing occurring during one cycle of operationof the aforesaid feeding, severing and folding means, and means for moving the label after each pressing operation to make room for the next label 10 as it passes to the pressing means.

14. In an apparatus oi' the class described, the

combination of means for folding a label or the like, means for pressing the folded. label to form V a crease at the fold, said means operating to press the label a plurality of times, and means for moving the label after each pressing operation.

15. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of means for folding a label or the like, and means for pressing the folded label to form a crease at the fold, said means operating to lpress the label a plurality of times.

ARTHUR ROSENTHAL. 

